Incense has accompanied meditation and daily ritual across Buddhist cultures for well over a thousand years, traditionally marking time, cleansing a space and settling the mind for practice. A proper incense plate does two practical jobs, holding the stick at the correct shallow angle and catching every trace of ash as it falls. Our Buddha incense plates suit standard incense sticks, and several designs also hold cones, which burn more intensely over a shorter time and suit smaller rooms. The material matters more than it first appears, as terracotta and ceramic surfaces are naturally heat safe and wipe completely clean, while their earthy tones hide the gentle marks of daily use. Position your plate away from draughts, which cause uneven burning and scattered ash, and away from curtains or paper. A windowsill slightly opened after burning refreshes the room while keeping the lingering base note of the incense. To clean, simply tip the cooled ash away and wipe with a dry cloth. Most customers keep one plate beside their meditation corner and a second in the hallway or bathroom.